Cup Holder Insert

ABSTRACT

An insert for a cup holder or similar orifice with an inner wall has a plurality of arcuate legs. The legs arc outward from a proximal end to a distal end and are flexible inward via application of a force. The legs return flex outward when the force is released thereby forming a pressure fit against the wall of a cup holder or insert to rigidly maintain the insert within the wall.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/322,828 filed on Apr. 15, 2016, the entire contents of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates generally to an insert for an open orifice, and more specifically, it relates to an insert for use in an existing cup holder to securely maintain an item relative to the cup holder.

It can be appreciated that cup holder inserts are known in the art. Specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 8,132,770 describes and claims an embodiment of a stemware holder for use as an insert into a cup holder. While the prior art cup holder inserts provide for sturdy support of stemware (or another item) relative to a standard cup holder, they lack versatility for use in cup holders of different sizes. It would be useful to have an insert that is versatile and offers a sturdy, substantially rigid engagement within a variety of cup holders or similar orifices of different sizes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various other objects, features and attendant advantages of the present disclosure will become fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of the cup holder insert according to the disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the cup holder insert of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the cup holder insert of the prior Figures;

FIG. 4 is another side perspective view of the cup holder insert of the prior Figures; and

FIG. 5 is an exemplary representation of the insert of the prior Figures being positioned within a cup holder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Among the benefits and improvements disclosed herein, other objects and advantages of the disclosed embodiments will become apparent from the following wherein like numerals represent like parts throughout the several figures. Detailed embodiments of a cup holder insert are disclosed; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely illustrative of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. In addition, each of the examples given in connection with the various embodiments of the invention which are intended to be illustrative, and not restrictive.

Throughout the specification and claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The phrases “In some embodiments” and “in some embodiments” as used herein do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment(s), though it may. The phrases “in another embodiment” and “in some other embodiments” as used herein do not necessarily refer to a different embodiment, although it may. Thus, as described below, various embodiments may be readily combined, without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

In addition, as used herein, the term “or” is an inclusive “or” operator, and is equivalent to the term “and/or,” unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. The term “based on” is not exclusive and allows for being based on additional factors not described, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, throughout the specification, the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references. The meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.

Further, the terms “substantial,” “substantially,” “similar,” “similarly,” “analogous,” “analogously,” “approximate,” “approximately,” and any combination thereof mean that differences between compared features or characteristics is less than 25% of the respective values/magnitudes in which the compared features or characteristics are measured and/or defined.

Turning now descriptively to the drawings, the attached FIGS. 1-4 show an embodiment of the disclosed cup holder insert 10. Notably, the embodiment of the cup holder insert 10 is depicted with an upper platform 14 configured for maintaining a base of a piece of stemware. The platform 14 is present in the illustrative Figures and discussed herein for the purpose of better explaining the inventive features of the base 10. The platform 14 is representative of any upper element that one may desire to secure substantially rigidly above a cup holder or similar cylindrical orifice with a wall. This particular upper platform 14 is known and does not presently make up an inventive portion of the cup holder insert 10.

As shown, the insert 10 comprises a plurality of outwardly arcuate legs 12 circumferentially spaced from each other. The legs 12 each extend downward from the underside of the platform 14. The depicted embodiments include three substantially identical legs 12 evenly spaced from one another about 360° below the platform 14. The number of legs 12 depicted is non-limiting; i.e., embodiments of the insert exist with four, five or more legs. Moreover, it is not essential that the legs be substantially identical or necessarily evenly spaced, however the depicted embodiment is particularly preferred. Each leg 12 extends from a proximal end 16 at a position on the underside of the platform 14 that is radially inward from the respective leg's distal end 18. As shown, the legs 12 each have an outwardly arcuate contour from the proximal to distal ends (16 to 18). In the depicted embodiment, the legs 12 arc outward to substantially tangent the vertical. As shown most clearly in the bottom view of FIG. 3, the outward arc of the legs 12 is such that the peripheral diameter D1 defined between the legs at the proximal (top) end 16 is smaller than the diameter peripheral diameter D2 at the distal end 18. In other embodiments, the legs 12 can touch or overlap with one another at their proximal ends; i.e., the space separating them from one another on the bottom surface of the platform 14, shown in FIG. 3, is non-limiting. Moreover, it can be seen that each leg 12 expands circumferentially outward from its proximal end toward its distal end; i.e., the legs have a proximal width W1 that is smaller than the distal width W2 of the respective leg.

The legs 12 are made from a resilient somewhat bendable material such as molded from plastic. However, other resilient materials, such as metals may be substituted. In a typical operation, a user may flex the plurality of legs inward to slide the insert 10 into a cup holder or similar orifice with a wall 20. Once the legs 12 are within the cup holder, the legs 12 flex outward in the direction toward their initial position, thereby providing an outward force to maintain the insert 10 in a pressure fit with the wall 20. The pressure fit of the legs 12 to the inner wall of the cup holder has been shown to be particularly strong and allows a substantially rigid engagement of the device into orifices having a wide variety of shapes and sizes.

The configuration of the arcuate legs 12 is such that the insert 10 can be used in cup holders of varied dimensions, so long as the diameter of the wall 20 is at least slightly smaller than the outer diameter defined by the outermost surfaces of the legs 12, such that outward forces from the legs 12 returning toward their initial position cause a press fit on the wall 20. An aspect of the

As noted above, the insert 10 is shown and described in the context of being a base for a substantially flat platform 14 with a slot, which is configured to maintain the base of a piece of stemware. The insert 10 comprising outwardly arcuate legs can be used with virtually any upper portion that a user wishes to maintain in a rigid relationship to a cup holder or similar orifice.

With respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described herein are intended to be encompassed by the present disclosure.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. 

What is claimed is:
 1. An insert for maintaining a substantially rigid connection with a cylindrical orifice defining a circumferential wall, comprising a plurality of arcuate legs that each arc outward from a proximal end to a distal end, wherein the legs are inwardly flexible upon application of an inward force, and the legs return flex outward upon a release of said inward force.
 2. The insert of claim 1, comprising three legs circumferentially spaced evenly from one another around 360°.
 3. The insert of claim 2, wherein the legs are spaced at equal distances from one another.
 4. The insert of claim 1, comprising two or more legs.
 5. The insert of claim 4, comprising three or more legs.
 6. The insert of claim 5, comprising three legs equally spaced from one other about an entire circumference.
 7. The insert of claim 1, wherein outward pressure from the legs forms a pressure fit with the circumferential wall when the legs are positioned within the orifice.
 8. The insert of claim 1, wherein the arcuate legs are integrally formed of molded plastic.
 9. The insert of claim 1, wherein each leg has a proximal width W₁ and a distal width W₂ that is greater than W₁.
 10. The insert of claim 1, wherein the legs are separated from one another at their distal end by a diameter D₁ and separated from one another at their proximal end by a diameter D₂ that is less than D₁.
 11. An insert for maintaining a substantially rigid connection with a cylindrical orifice defining a circumferential wall, comprising a plurality of arcuate legs that each arc outward from a proximal end with a width W₁ to a distal end with a width W₂ that is greater than W₁, wherein the legs are inwardly flexible upon application of an inward force, and the legs return flex outward upon a release of said inward force, and said outward flexure provides pressure on the circumferential wall to maintain the insert within the wall. 